ARCADIA — Marcus Jackson fondly remembers two stories about Travious Fielding, his star player at Arcadia High School.

The first dates back to Fielding's eighth grade season when he shed two tears, according to Jackson, who serves as Arcadia's boys basketball coach, when learning he couldn't practice due to a cold. The second happened earlier this year when Fielding, fresh off an ACL surgery, dove over the opposing team's bench against Simsboro.

On both occasions, Fielding's reasoning was the same. He didn't know any other way. He just loves to play basketball.

"I said I'm glad this guy is on my team," Jackson recalled.

Now, Fielding is on Grambling's team after signing with the school Wednesday afternoon, and Tigers coach Shawn Walker is also glad to now have him.

"He only knows one way to play and that's hard. He's tough. He defends and he'll be the catalyst to what we're trying to do defensively," Walker said Wednesday. "He's just a tough kid. He's a lamb off the floor and a dog on the floor."

Add Fielding, who is soft spoken off the court, to the growing list of incoming players who want to help lift Grambling's basketball program from the bottom of Division I hoops.

Fielding, who helped the school capture its first state championship this year, joined Seattle, Washington, product Ivy Smith as the Tigers' four signees at the start of Wednesday's spring signing period. Grambling also signed guards Drake Wilks and Marcel Thompson.

"I believe I can help build the program back up," Fielding said.

"I feel like if I come and have the right mindset, I can be beneficial at the point guard position and help distribute the ball and work hard on offense and defense and turn the program around."

Fielding, a 6-foot-1, point guard, averaged 16.2 points, six rebounds and three assists a game per game for Arcadia. He scored 18 points in the Class 1A title game to take home tournament MVP honors. He was also voted to the 1A All-State team.

Grambling served as Fielding's main offer. He generated some interest from Northwestern State along with Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View A&M late in the process, but staying close to home to play for the Tigers was too good to pass up.

An added bonus was that Walker wanted Fielding since he saw him play last year and remained interested even when Fielding torn his ACL last March.

"It's a good thing I'm not far from home, still close to family, coaches and teammates to come see me play," he said.

Arcadia coach Marcus Jackson said Fielding will bring a winning vibe to Grambling, which finished 7-24 in 2016.

"Grambling is picking up a heck of a player. He does do all the intangible things," Jackson said. "Not only does he bring winning ways and game experience but he does those things in practice, too."

An adjustment period will be needed for Fielding, though, who isn't accustomed to losing. Prior to Walker's tenure, Grambling suffered through a winless campaign in 2013. Arcadia made it to the state semifinals in 2016 before winning the title in 2016.

"I told him that's going to be a struggle but I told him if I was the head coach at Grambling I would want him because I even know even through, even when Trayman was hurt, I saw him come to practice every day, didn't skip a practice after surgery and made it to every game," Jackson said. "Even though he was down and the team was struggling and we needed him, he still find other things he could do to help the team win."

Fielding will provide depth at point guard with SWAC Freshman of the Year Nigel Ribeiro, who enjoyed a solid campaign in 2016. Fielding isn't afraid to play defense, either. Smith and returning point guard Chase Cormier will join forces to give a major upgrade to a position of need.

"Ivy looks like a fifth grader. He's 5-11 and 145 pounds but he's a dog. He scores it. He handles it. He passes it," Walker said.

Thompson is a 6-4 guard from Baltimore, Maryland, via Coastal Academy. He was the first player to commit to the Tigers earlier this year. Thompson averaged 18.7 points, six rebounds and three steals last year.

Wilks is a 6-6 combo guard from Benton, Arkansas, who prepped in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2016. He averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists at Elev8 in Delray.

"Of this group, he is the best long range shooter and potentially one of the best shooters in the SWAC," Walker said of Thompson.

Grambling hopes to bring in two more post players for a total of six signees this class. The Tigers have openings due to five players either transferring or leaving the program. Javier Ropier, Mike Bethea, Kyle Williams and Jefkins Agyeman-Budu are transferring and Jack Ocwieja is leaving the program.

The additions will come in the form of high school or prep players. Grambling isn't allowed to take any transfers this year due to penalties stemming from prior APR infractions.

"We're thin inside. Big guys are hard to recruit because everyone wants them," Walker said. "We have to figure out a way to attract a post player or two that can come in and help us get over the top. We need one that can shoot and one that can play with their back to the basket."